Center for International Forestry Research
An international scientific organization researching forests, agroforestry, land use, climate, biodiversity and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is a non-profit international research organization headquartered in Bogor, Indonesia. Its work examines how forests are used, governed and conserved, with particular emphasis on tropical forests and developing countries. Rather than operating as a commercial forestry company or a conventional laboratory institution, CIFOR works as a policy-oriented research center that assembles multidisciplinary teams and collaborates with governments, universities, civil-society organizations, communities, donors and other research institutions. CIFOR’s research addresses the social, economic, environmental and political forces that shape forests. Its analysis therefore extends beyond technical forestry to issues such as agricultural expansion, infrastructure, trade and investment, land tenure, law enforcement, climate change, biodiversity, food security and rural livelihoods. The organization seeks to convert research into evidence that policymakers and practitioners can use when designing forest, land-use and sustainable-development policies. A recurring concern is how to reconcile conservation and restoration with the needs of people whose incomes, food systems and cultural practices depend on forests and trees. The organization was established in the early 1990s through the CGIAR system. Preparatory work began before the 1992 Earth Summit. In 1991, CGIAR appointed the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research as the implementing agency for establishing the new center and creating its board of trustees. The founding agreement was signed by Australia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. It was deposited with the United Nations, and CIFOR’s international legal position was reinforced by a host-country agreement with Indonesia in May 1993. CIFOR developed as a “center without walls,” relying on collaboration rather than a large network of conventional laboratories. Over time, it placed increasing emphasis on forest policy and governance, complementing the more technical and production-oriented work of national and private-sector forestry institutions. Its areas of work have included forest management and restoration, environmental services, climate-change mitigation and adaptation, REDD+, forest-related trade and investment, smallholder production systems, tree resources, gender, justice, tenure and the relationship between forests and poverty. On 1 January 2019, CIFOR merged with World Agroforestry, commonly known as ICRAF. The combined organization is generally referred to as CIFOR-ICRAF and serves as the CGIAR research center covering forestry and agroforestry. It continues to work within CGIAR, a global network of research centers focused on agricultural research for sustainable development. CIFOR-ICRAF’s stated research ambition is to provide actionable evidence and solutions for transforming land use and food production while responding to climate, malnutrition, biodiversity and desertification crises. CIFOR has regional offices in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Kenya, and project offices in Ethiopia, Zambia, Vietnam, Laos, Brazil and Peru. Its work is supported through partnerships with public agencies, international development organizations, research institutions and local stakeholders. Major institutional relationships have included CGIAR, the European Union, USAID, GEF, IFAD, NORAD, Australian aid and several European development agencies. Its communication activities include research publications, policy analysis, events, media work and the Forests News platform. Robert Nasi is identified in the reference material as the current Director General.
History
CIFOR emerged from discussions within the CGIAR system about the need for an international institution focused specifically on forests and forest policy in tropical and developing-country contexts. Although its establishment followed the 1992 Earth Summit and is often associated with that event, the preparatory discussions began earlier. In 1991, CGIAR selected the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research to implement the creation of the center and establish a board of trustees. Australia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States signed the establishment agreement, which was lodged with the United Nations. A host-country agreement with the Indonesian government in May 1993 completed the legal framework for CIFOR as an international organization. From the beginning, CIFOR was conceived as a collaborative “center without walls.” Its model emphasized research teams working with national institutions, universities, governments and other partners rather than depending on a large stand-alone laboratory system. This structure allowed the organization to study forest problems across countries and disciplines. The early institutional direction gradually shifted toward forest policy, governance and social science, complementing organizations whose work concentrated more heavily on technical forestry, tree breeding or production systems. CIFOR’s research agenda expanded as the international understanding of forests changed. Forests came to be treated not only as sources of timber and other products, but also as critical systems for climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, water management, food security and rural livelihoods. The organization therefore investigated the causes and consequences of deforestation and degradation, including agriculture, infrastructure, markets, investment, tenure systems and enforcement. Its programs also considered how forest-dependent communities could secure rights and income while conservation objectives were pursued. A major strand of CIFOR’s work concerned climate policy. Its research contributed to discussions around REDD+, the international effort to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Through comparative studies, the organization examined pilot projects and national and subnational implementation, with attention to effectiveness, cost, equity, poverty reduction and biodiversity. CIFOR also worked on adaptation, mitigation, environmental services and the trade-offs that arise when land is managed for competing objectives. CIFOR developed international research platforms and communication channels to connect evidence with practice. The Poverty and Environment Network, launched in 2004 and completed as a research project in 2010, assembled comparable household and village data from developing-country sites to analyze the role of forests in livelihoods and poverty. The Forests News blog disseminated research, analysis and event reporting on climate, human wellbeing, restoration, food, gender, tenure, value chains and finance. CIFOR also organized Forest Day events alongside United Nations climate conferences and convened the Forests Asia Summit in Jakarta. In 2019, CIFOR merged with World Agroforestry, known as ICRAF. The merger broadened the institution’s scope across forests, farms, trees and landscapes. The resulting CIFOR-ICRAF organization remains part of CGIAR and works with other CGIAR centers and a wide range of development, government and research partners. Its present mission combines scientific research, policy engagement and communication in support of sustainable land use, ecosystem conservation and restoration, climate action, biodiversity and improved wellbeing for people who depend on forests and trees.
- 2019
Merger with World Agroforestry
[1]CIFOR merged with World Agroforestry, or ICRAF, to form the combined CIFOR-ICRAF forestry and agroforestry research center within CGIAR.
- 2011
Forest Day 5 held in Durban
[1]CIFOR organized the fifth Forest Day alongside the climate conference in Durban, creating a forum for forest and climate stakeholders.
- 2008
New strategy approved
[1]The board approved a strategy responding to the growing importance of forests in climate-change, development and global land-use debates.
- 2004
Poverty and Environment Network launched
[1]CIFOR launched an international research network studying how forest and environmental income contributes to the livelihoods of poor households.
- 1996
First institutional strategy
[1]CIFOR’s first strategy provided a foundation for research that influenced tropical forest management and policy.
- 1993
CIFOR is legally established in Indonesia
[1]The establishment agreement was deposited with the United Nations, and a host-country agreement with Indonesia consolidated CIFOR’s status as an international organization.
- 1991
CGIAR begins formal establishment work
[1]CGIAR appointed the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research to implement the creation of CIFOR and establish its governing board.
Products and positioning
An independent, evidence-led international research organization connecting forest science with public policy, sustainable land use and the interests of forest-dependent people.
Research program
CGIAR Forests, Trees and Agroforestry
A CGIAR-wide research program led by CIFOR and conducted with World Agroforestry, CIAT and Bioversity International. It covers smallholder production and markets, forest and tree-resource management, environmental services, landscape planning, climate adaptation and mitigation, and the effects of trade and investment on forests and communities.
Research project
Global Comparative Study on REDD+
A multi-country comparative research initiative examining REDD+ pilot activities and implementation at national and subnational levels. It was designed to identify lessons about effectiveness, cost, equity, poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation for policymakers and practitioners.
Research network and database · 2004
Poverty and Environment Network
An international research network launched in 2004 that collected standardized household and village data across developing-country study sites. Its work examined the contribution of forest and environmental income to livelihoods and poverty reduction, leaving a database used for comparative analysis.
Research communication platform
Forests News
CIFOR’s research and analysis publication platform, covering climate change and energy, human wellbeing, forest management and restoration, food and diets, gender, justice and tenure, value chains, finance and organizational perspectives.
Marketing campaigns
- Forest Day
International
A forest and climate policy platform organized by CIFOR on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and held alongside United Nations climate conferences. Events brought together negotiators, researchers, practitioners, media and civil-society participants to exchange views on forests and climate change.
Outcome. Created a recurring international forum linking forest research and climate negotiations. Events were held in Bali, Poznań, Copenhagen, Cancún, Durban and Doha across the late 2000s and early 2010s.
- Forests Asia Summit
Southeast Asia · International
A Jakarta summit organized by CIFOR and co-hosted with Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. It convened public officials, company executives, civil-society leaders, development experts and scientists to discuss forest management, landscapes and the transition toward a green economy.
Outcome. The event connected regional decision-makers and international experts and used in-person and online participation to broaden discussion of Southeast Asian forest issues.
Brand decisions
2019
Merger with World AgroforestryM&ABackground
CIFOR and World Agroforestry, known as ICRAF, operated as CGIAR research centers with complementary expertise in forests, trees, agroforestry and land-use systems.
Action taken
The organizations merged on 1 January 2019, creating the combined CIFOR-ICRAF forestry and agroforestry center within CGIAR.
Aftermath
The combined organization broadened its research platform from forests to interconnected forests, farms, trees, landscapes and food systems.
2008
Adoption of a strategy for a new forest and climate eraStrategyBackground
CIFOR identified major changes in the role of forests, including their importance in climate policy, carbon management, biodiversity and development.
Action taken
The Board of Trustees approved a new strategy intended to guide the organization’s research through 2018 and to strengthen its policy relevance.
Aftermath
The strategy placed climate change, forest loss, environmental services and broader land-use drivers more prominently within CIFOR’s research agenda.
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